L.

Light after Dark

Chapter 4

Baby blue eyes sparkled as he jogged down the length of the beach, a beach bag in his arm. His spiky blonde hair danced in the wind as did the ever present crystal blue necklace around his neck. 'This ought to be fun.' He grinned and slowed to a stop to look over his shoulder at the two grouchy guy's seventeen paces behind him. "Come on!" He shouted. "All the good spots will be taken if you two don't hurry!"

"Oh shut up." A young man with midnight blue hair styled like a chickens ass growled. "I'm not going any faster so stop your complaining."

"Move your ass Sasuke!" Naruto yelled then turned his attention to the silent brunette beside him. "You too Neji!"

Pale eyes narrowed as he sighed and closed his eyes. "He won't give up will he?"

Sasuke scowled as he shook his head. "Nope."

Light after Dark Light after Dark

Emerald eyes widened as she spotted a familiar tuff of silver hair in the distance. "Kaka-Sempai!" She gasped, a pink tinge dusting the apples of her cheeks as she sat up straighter, her shoulders immediately squaring.

Beside her Temari smiled, her gaze following Sakura's. "And Kankurou's with him too."

Sakura nodded, a dark look coming across her face as they came into focus. Kakashi ran a hand through his wet hair, the water droplets dripping down his long face, his chest was bare and his black and gray swimming trunks hung low on his waist; under his arm was his silver and black surf board. A few steps behind him walked Kankurou with his brown hair matted to his face and a scowl resting on his lips. His muscled chest glistened with water as his plain black trunks clung to his hips as he drug his navy blue surf board behind him in despair.

She bit her lower lip in anticipation. 'He's going to come over right? Right?'

"Sakura?" Temari's concerned voice brought her back down to planet Earth. "You okay? You look sort of…sick."

"I'm fine…just…nervous…I…"

"Hey you two." A deep voice interrupted. Emerald eyes darted up to see Kakashi standing over her, a warm smile planted on his lips. "You okay Sakura? You look a bit pale…" He kneeled down in front of her and placed a cool, damp hand on her forehead. "Are you not feeling well?" A concerned look crossed his features. "Do you want to go back inside?"

'He's not mad?' Sakura bit her lower lip and grabbed his arm. "Kaka-Sempai? You're not mad?" She asked, her eyebrows furring and her mouth hanging agape.

Kakashi closed his eyes and sat back on her beach blanket, his pale skin glistening in the warm sun. "Of course not Sakura." He stated and ran his long fingers through his wet hair.

"But I was so-"

"You were upset. It's quite alright." He smiled and took her hand. "Just promise to talk to me instead of yelling next time alright?"

Pink hair swayed as she nodded and opened her mouth to speak.

"Hate to ruin a nice…friendship moment…" Kankurou's voice cut in. "But make room for one more?"

Sakura looked up to see him dump his surf board off to the side and nudge Temari's leg with his own sand covered one. She then looked across from her to see Kakashi grab one of the deep blue towels and began to dry his messy silver locks.

Temari twisted her lips and sat up, making room for him to sit down. "What's with you? Didn't have fun?" She raised a perfect blonde eyebrow at him.

Kankurou heaved a heavy sigh and caught the towel Kakashi tossed at him. "Things were good…till others caught wind of us practicing and decided to join in…fuckers…"

Temari nodded slowly. "And you're pissed because all the other kiddies wouldn't let you play in their sandbox…"

"Shut up Temari." He snipped and buried his damp face in the warm towel.

"What? I'm just trying to understand why you're so pissed and couldn't just 'share' the ocean." She shrugged casually and fiddled with the tiny grains of sand he kicked onto her blanket. "I mean I know your use to having everything to yourself but you don't own the ocean Kanky."

Kankurou glared down at his older sister. "I know that Tem. I'm not stupid." He tossed the now wet towel on her lap and took a seat beside her; his tanned back facing the ocean.

"Could have fooled me."

"Hello down there!" A distant voice interrupted them. All eyes turned to see Naruto waving in the distance. "Sorry we're late!" He yelled as he ran up to them. "See, we would have been here sooner but…well it's not my fault." He laughed and dropped his beach bag behind Temari then enveloped Sakura in a bear hug.

"Hi Naru Naru!" She laughed and leaned back into his embrace.

"Hi Saku!" He grinned and kissed her cheek. "Hey Sempai." He released her and nodded at Kakashi who now had the towel draped around his neck and shoulders. "Had a good practice?"

A dark look crossed Kankurou's face and he opened his mouth to speak just as Temari slapped her hand over his mouth. "Oh please don't get them started on that again." Temari stated just as Sasuke and Neji walked up.

"Don't get who started on what again?" Sasuke asked as he dropped the beach umbrellas and basket on the sand then shoved his hands into the pockets of his swim shorts.

"Hey be careful with that!" Naruto chided a frown on his face. "Those things cost money you know."

"Hey…" Sakura began, her gaze focused in the distance.

"Hm?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow at her.

"Did you see that?"

"See what?"

"Over there." She pointed blatantly at a group of people with their backs facing them.

"What about them?"

"Well one of them just glanced over here and did a nose dive into the sand when I saw." She twisted her lips. "It's weird."

Naruto sighed and took a seat beside her, blocking her view of the people. "Saku…did you ever consider the fact that maybe they're hiding from you cause you keep gawking at them?" He raised an eyebrow at her and shrugged. "I mean c'mon, you're not even trying to be subtle." A tinge of pink covered her cheeks as he took her hand and pushed it down. "It's not nice to point and stare at people Saku." He chided her.

"I didn't mean to…" She trailed off and turned her head to the side. "I thought they kept…oh whatever."

"Awww…" He pinched her cheeks. "Someone's embarrassed of their blunder." He spoke in a baby voice, a huge grin on his face.

Beside her Temari laughed. "She is! Aww and she's turning red! Too cute!" She teased.

"You're making her feel embarrassed." Kankurou chortled and leaned back on his elbows.

"Why am I here?" Sasuke mumbled and kicked the sand beside them.

"Cause your mum wanted you to be." Kakashi answered metaphorically. "So shut it and enjoy your life."

Light after Dark Light after Dark

The young man with long blonde hair pulled into a pony tail coughed as he slowly walked out of the water, a bright blue surfboard tucked under his arm. 'Shit!' He breathed deeply and rubbed his knuckles into his eyes. 'I'm damn sure that was her I saw…'

"Deidara-Sempai! You okay?" Another man wearing an orange mask ran up to him and took his board.

Deidara sighed and turned back to face the water, his hands on his hips as he adjusted his swimming trunks. 'We're all in the shithole if she saw me…and what about the contest? How the hell am I suppose to compete with her watching?'

Light after Dark Light after Dark

"Alright! All surfing contestants line up and get ready!" The announcer spoke into the microphone. "We start in seven minutes!"

Blonde hair whirled as he turned to glare up at the announcer seated on top of a lifeguard chair. 'Fuck you couldn't even give me some time could you?'

"Deidara-Sempai!" The young man with short black hair and an orange mask waved. "You need to get ready!"

"Shut up Tobi." He snarled and pushed him aside as she stalked up to another man. "Itachi." He called, pointedly ignoring the fact that the man was currently putting sun block all over his exposed chest, arms, legs and back. 'Why the hell are you at the beach and entering a surfing contest, when you don't want to get tan?'

"What Deidara?" Itachi asked, a dark look in his eye.

"We have a problem."

Light after Dark Light after Dark

"Better go Kaka-Sempai!" Sakura smiled across at him and waved. "Good luck!"

Kakashi nodded as he stood up and picked up his board then looked over his shoulder at Kankurou. "I'm ready." He mumbled and nodded down at Temari who gave him the thumbs up.

"Good luck Kaka-Sempai!" Naruto stood up and grinned. "Alright you two." He turned to face Sasuke and Neji. "Help me put up the umbrellas."

"Aw shit…" The young man with chicken ass hair muttered as he picked himself up and caught the umbrella thrown at him.

"Shut up Sasuke." Neji sighed and picked up the basket and began laying out the snacks and beach towels.

"Sasuke open your eyes and do it right!" Naruto growled, annoyance seeping into his voice.

"Stop yelling at me!" Sasuke fumed.

"I wouldn't have to yell if you'd do it right in the first place! It isn't brain surgery!"

"Dipshit." Sasuke muttered.

Then a loud thump was heard followed by a long stream of choiced words.

Olive eyes watched the young woman beside her as she watched Kakashi and Kankurou walk off. "You're really close to him aren't you?" She spoke, ignoring the bickering behind them.

"Hm?" Sakura turned her attention to Temari.

"Kakashi. You're really close to him."

Pink hair swayed as she nodded. "He's like…well honestly he's like a father to me." She smiled happily.

Temari nodded and stretched out her long legs to catch the sun's rays. "That's nice." She mumbled. "To have someone like that…a father figure…."

A frown graced the pinkett's lips as her words sunk in. "You don't…have a father?"

"…No…not really…"

"So it's just you and Kankurou?"

Temari chewed her lower lip before taking a deep breath. "And my brother…younger brother…" She murmured. "He's uh…younger than Kankurou...actually he should be about your age."

Light after Dark Light after Dark

"Seven minutes till we begin! Everyone get in your places!" The announcer warned.

"Hey Kakashi." Kankurou nudged the older man. "Over there." He nodded in the direction to the furthest end.

Silver hair swayed as he nodded and followed him through the crowd, dodging men and woman and they scurried to find a place in the lineup. Within minutes they found themselves towards the end. 'Didn't expect such a turn out…' Kakashi closed his eyes and accidently brushed shoulders with someone.

"Shit man! Oh fuck!" The person cursed.

Dark eyes snapped open but found no one in his line of vision. '…That was weird…' He blinked and walked up to the line and sighed then turned to face the person at his side. '…Shit…' A dark look crossed Kakashi's face as his gaze landed on the man in front of him. 'This isn't good.' He ran his hand though his messy locks. 'This isn't good at all.'

He examined the man standing in front of him, hoping his eyes were deceiving him. The man was tall and lean, with jet black, inky hair pulled into a loose pony tail at the nape of his neck. His skin was pale, dark eyes were sunken in, his nose was defined, his cheek bones high and proud. His chest was colorless and flat, and his black and red trunks hung low on his hips.

"Itachi." Kakashi spoke slowly.

"Kakashi."

"I thought I told you guys to stay away." Kakashi spoke, his voice low and gravely.

Itachi worked his jaw. 'What Deidara said was true then…Sakura must be here somewhere…' His eyes darted around only to land back on the man in front of him. "How was I supposed to know that you'd be here?" He inquired coolly.

A young man wearing a mask appeared at Itachi's side. "Itachi-Sempai! Deidara-Sempai said…" He trailed off as soon as he noticed Kakashi standing there. "Uhm…they…" He gestured behind him.

Kakashi's jaw worked as he looked over their shoulders and saw the group of people he was pointing at. "Don't you people think you've cost the girl enough pain?"

Light after Dark Light after Dark

L.

What do you think?

Be sure to check out the link in my profile.

If you don't review I don't know to continue this story.

Continue?

All constructive and unconstructive criticism welcome.